KSC recognizes National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Karen Forster
Equinox Staff
Wounds will heal, but the scars will never disappear.
“I was completely defenseless.”
“I was just wishing for it to be over.”
“Why didn’t I leave my abusive relationship? I ask myself that same question every day.”
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“I’ve never known such a feeling of powerlessness before.”
These were only some of the detailed and emotional descriptions that speakers brought to Keene State College’s Shout Out Against Sexual Violence last Tuesday, April 10.
President of Phi Sigma Sigma Adrianna Cardinal described the Shout Out Against Sexual Violence event as an opportunity that provides survivors of sexual assault with a safe place to tell their stories.
Counselor and Coordinator of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Forrest Seymour said, “It’s really about healing, creating a safe place to allow these students to share their experience with others because there’s so much shame when it comes to sexual violence and so we sort of shine a light on people being able to heal and tell their stories.”
“It’s just very touching and important for both the speakers and those who attend,” Seymour said.
Seymour explained how important this event is because of how different it is.
“It’s very moving because a lot of our other events are more about education, fundraising, and raising awareness. This event brings it to a more personal level, it’s about the healing of hearts of those personally affected and it’s really spectacular.”
Not only was it able to provide a safe place for the speakers to tell their story, but members of the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention (MCVP) also spoke about the services they offer.
Because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Dean of Students Gail Zimmerman began the event by reading a proclamation on behalf of President Helen Giles-Gee.
“KSC is committed to educating the campus about sexual violence and supporting the victims. We are pleased to see students and staff joining together during the month of April to raise awareness through this shout out, Take Back the Night, Walk-a-Mile in Her Shoes, Men’s March to End Sexual Violence, and other activities.”
Seymour explained that the month of April and the Sexual Violence Awareness events have three main goals: education, activism, and leadership.
“The education part is obviously to raise awareness. The second is activism in the sense of helping students to take their own action in joining a walk or what have you,” Seymour said.
“The third is leadership because these events give students the opportunity to take efforts to make changes to help shift the culture. It creates opportunity for students to take a leadership role and take the skills for other efforts they may have down the road in order to make a difference,” Seymour said.
Zimmerman explained the importance behind KSC’s effort towards raising awareness of sexual violence.
“One of my great privileges as Dean of Students is to pay attention to how the environment at KSC supports all students,” Zimmerman said.
“Over this past year we had a committee which investigated and reviewed our sexual assault policy and more important our protocol and practices. It’s been a great an excellent way of paying attention of how we best support student through very difficult times,” she said.
Education and Outreach Coordinator with MCVP Kasey LaFlam said, “We are the local crisis center for the Monadnock region and all of our services our free and confidential. We provide a 24-hour crisis hotline, peer counseling, support groups, ongoing court advocacy, and legal advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.”
To learn more about Sexual Violence Awareness Month or upcoming events, contact Forrest Seymour or the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention, located at 12 Court St. in the basement of the Superior Court House in Keene, N.H.
Karen Forster can be contacted at
kforster@kesc.mailcruiser.com